John haeeisson



(No Model.)

J. HARRISSON.

APPARATUS FOR WORKING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

Patented Dec. 26, 1882.

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UNITED STATES JOHN HARRISSON, F \VELL STREET,

PATENT OFFIC HACKNEY, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEEQ,

ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,665, dated December 26, 1882.

Application filed Jiily 31, 1882. (No model.) Patented in England April 6, 188:2, No. 1,682

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HARRISSON, a sub-- ject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Well Street, Hackney, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Working Railway-Signals, (for which I have received Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 1,682, dated 6th April, 1882,) of which the fol- IO lowingis a specification.

This invention has for its object improvenientsin apparatus for working railway-signals. Itis frequently desirable to employautomatic signals such that as soon as a train passes the signal shall automatically be set to danger. Now my invention admits of such automatic signals being used in connection with interlocking apparatus such as is now in common use to prevent the signals being at Variance 23 with the points. I make no changein respect -to the signal-levers and the interlocking apparatus; but for any signal which it is desired to render automatic 1 provide a latch in the course of the wire or connection passing from 25 the lever to the signal-post. A weight is, as usual, provided, which carries the signal to danger except when it is drawn down by the wire or connection, and another weight to keep the wire or connection in tension. Near the latch a treadle is provided upon the line of railway, and the oflice of this treadle is to lift the latch and disengage the signal from the signallever when a train passes the tl'eadle. The signal is at once raised by the weight to the danger position, and draws back with it onehalf adivision of the latch, while the other half or division, in connection with the wire which passes to the signal-lever, remains unmoved until the signalman sets back the sig- 4o rial-lever in ordinary course. When the sigrial-lever is put back this latter part of the latch is by the weight attached to the end of the wire drawn into position for the two parts of the latch to again engage with one another,

5 and the signalman may then, when he requires to do so, draw down the signal in the usual way. Thus my apparatusin no way interferes with the working of the signals and the interlocking gear, but it prevents the signalman retainingthe signal at safety after the train has passed it. Electrical-contact apparatus may be provided,in connection with the treadle or lifting-bar, to announce the arrival of a train.

In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried'iuto effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus as I prefer to arrange it. The apparatus is here shown as it appears when the signal has been taken off by means ofthe signal-lever in the cabin,-where there is the ordinary interlocking apparatus to prevent the signal being lowered until the points and other signals have been suitably set. Fig. 6 2 is also a side view of the apparatus, but with the parts in the position they occupy when the signal has been set free automatically by a train passing the signal and has returned, so that it is now on againsta following train. Fig. 3 is again a side view with the parts in a third position--viz., with the signal-lever in the cabin alsoin the danger? positionthatis to say, in the position in which, the signal being on, the levers interlocked with the signallever are free. Fig. 4 is a plan of some of the parts.

a c are standards.

b is a bar held by the standards and capable of sliding longitudinally.

c is a chain or other connection passing from the bar 0 to the signal-lever d. The lever dis in the signalmans cabin, where there is the usual interlocking gear to prevent the lever being used to take off the signal unless the 8 switches and other signals are properly placed.

e is a chain or other connection passing from the other end of the sliding bar b to a weight, which takes the bar forward when the lover (1 permits. 0

.fis a latch. It is connected with the bar b by a pin atf passing through a slot, 1), Fig. 2, in the bar. At its other end, atf the latch is capable of engaging with the shoulder b upon the bar b. 5

g is a forked link, held by one of the standards, a, and capable of sliding longitudinally. It is connected at one end with the pin f of the latch, and at the other end with a chain or other connection, It, passing to the arm Ic of the weighted lever 70, which is upon the signal-post. The lever 7c is connected in the usual Way with the signal-arm. Its weight raises the signalarm or puts the signal on, and it is taken 01f lQ the pull of the chain or connection h.

l is a tripping-lever. It is pivotedto one of the standards at l, and by preference it is arranged nearly to balance about the pivot. The otherend, Z of this lever is acted upon in any convenient. way by a treadle by the side of the rail, which atrain in passing depresses. The trcadle-lever can be fixed upon an axis, m, upon which there is also alever-arm,m. The depression of the treadle raises the arm m and the end of the tripping-lever I. Now, when the signal is otf the nose of the latch f rests upon the tripping-lever I, so that on this lever being raised the latch is disengaged from the shoulder b of the bar I). The latch is then drawn forward by the weight, and the signal is automatically put on against a following train. The sigualmau can take the signal off by first putting the lever d to the danger position, when the latch again engages with the bar I) at 11 and thus on the return of the lever it operates the signal in the usual way.

In place of a sliding bar, I), a bent bar or arc mounted on axis may be substituted.

It is obvious that myinvention may be used with disk and other forms of signals as well as with semaphore-arms.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the forms and details of the parts represented in the drawings; but

What I claim as my improvements in apparatus for working railway-signals is The combination of a signal-lever controlled by interlocking, apparatus, a latch interposed between said lever and its signal, means actuated by the passing of a train for disengaging the latch and causing the signal to be automatically put on against a following train while the signal'lever remains in the off position, and means actuated by the signal-lever when moved back by the signalman to the on or danger position t'orre'engaging thelatoh, substantially as and for the purpose liereinbefore set forth.

JOHN HARRISSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN DEAN, J. VVAIT, Both of 17 Gravcrhm'ch Street, London. 

